HIGHLIGHTS

·         PM Modi has announced a nationwide lockdown for 21 days

·         The lockdown will come into effect at today at midnight

·         The PM however said that the essential services will not be affected

Essential services like groceries, dairy, ATMs, pharmacies and medical services will be available during the 21-day nationwide lockdown, which will come into effect at midnight on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made the announcement during his address to the nation on coronavirus outbreak. While the prime minister said that the nation must forget about leaving the house for 21 days, he assured that essential services would be not be affected.

Ministry of Home Affairs is expected has issued guidelines of effective measures and exceptions to the essential services during this 21-day lockdown. There will also be an MHA 24/7 hotline to assist states during this period.

Full list of essential services which will remain open during 21-day nationwide lockdown:

Shops: Ration shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, meat and fish, animal fodder. (District authorities may encourage and facilitate home delivery to minimise the movement of individuals outside their homes)

Financial services: Banks, insurance offices and ATMs.

Media: Print and electronic media

Communications: Telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting and cable services. IT and IT-enabled services only essential services – work from home as much as possible

Delivery of all essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment through e-commerce

Petrol pumps, LPG and petroleum and gas retail and storage outlets

Power generation, transmission and distribution units and services

Capital and debt market services as notified by SEBI

Cold storage and warehousing services

Private security services

Curfew-like lockdown

In his address, the prime minister said that the nationwide lockdown will be just like a curfew.

“If you won’t follow this lockdown for 21 days then your family may face setback of 21 years, some families will be devested forever,” the PM said.

PM Modi said that the lockdown will etch a Lakshman Rekha outside everyone’s house, which must not be crossed. “Forget about leaving your house for the next 21 days, stay where you are,” the prime minister said.